Beaker

• A beaker is a stout, cylindrical glass vessel, with a flat bottom and pouring spout.

• Beakers are used for preparing solutions, collecting and mixing liquids and heating solutions.

• They usually have measurement lines, but these should only be used for measuring approximate volumes, as they are not as accurate as other types of glassware.

• Beakers come in a range of sizes, with some being narrower or wider than the standard shape shown below.

A beaker

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Conical Flask

• A conical flask (also called an Erlenmeyer flask) is glass vessel with a wide flat bottom that tapers up into a narrow cylindrical neck.

• Conical flasks are used for collecting and mixing liquids, as they can be swirled without spilling contents.

• They are also used in biology for growing microbial cultures.

• Like beakers, conical flasks usually have measurement lines that should only be used for measuring approximate volumes.

• Conical flasks comes in a range of sizes, and can have necks of varying widths.

A conical flask

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Measuring Cylinder

• A measuring cylinder (also called a graduated cylinder) is a tall, narrow glass vessel with a wider flat-bottom stand.

• Measuring cylinders have precisely marked measurement lines along their side.

• They are used for accurately measuring volumes of liquids.

• Measuring cylinders come in a variety of sizes.

Measuring cylinders

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Test Tube

• A test tube is a narrow glass tube with a round bottom and open top.

• Test tubes are used for holding, mixing or heating small samples of substances (liquid or solid).

• A rubber stopper can be used to seal a test tube when mixing substances.

• When not being held, test tubes are placed in a test tube rack to prevent them from toppling over or rolling off the lab bench.

• This reduces the risk of breakage and chemical spills.

• When heating substances in a test tube over a Bunsen burner flame, a test tube holder is used.

• Test tubes can also be placed in racks in a water bath.

Test tubes

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Glass Funnel

• A glass funnel is a wide-mouth glass vessel tapering to a narrow drainage column.

• Glass funnels are used for preventing spillage when pouring liquids from larger containers into smaller, narrow-necked containers.

• They are also used in conjunction with filter paper for filtration of fine solid particles from liquid mixtures.

A glass funnel

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Round-Bottom Flask

• A round-bottom flask is a glass vessel that is completely round, except for a narrow neck.

• Round-bottom flasks are used for specialised laboratory tasks, such as distillation, where the flask is heated over a Bunsen burner flame.

• Due to its shape, a round-bottom flask is held in a clamp or attached to another piece equipment when being used.

A round-bottom flask

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Glass Rod

• A glass rod (also called an stirring rod) is thin, solid length of rounded glass.

• Glass rods are used for stirring chemicals and decanting liquids.

A glass stirring rod

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Watch Glass

• A watch glass is a round, slightly concave (curved) piece of glass.

• Watch glasses are used for holding small amounts of solids or liquids, often for weighing them.

• They are also used as a surface for evaporating liquids from solutions and drying solids.

• They can also be used as a temporary cover for beakers containing solutions, to prevent dust or other substances from getting into them.

A watch glass

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